Would you tell your Kids you were a Drug Addict

uch · 26-07-2014 03:08AM #1

I'm pretty open with my kids, and have admitted to my oldest that I was (and will always will be) a Junkie (but clean for years), haven't told the youngest yet though. She's a toughie though .But would you tell your kids about any drug habbits you've had

Super-Rush · 26-07-2014 03:13AM

I was never an addict but i've done more than my fair share of drugs over the years. I would tell them when they were old enough to understand what it was all about just so they would know i actually knew what i was talking about and i wasn't reciting what i'd read on a pamphlet.

Charlie19 · 26-07-2014 03:29AM

Educate your kids as much as possible and I think they will form a better opinion on whats an addict.

UCDVet · 26-07-2014 04:16AM

It's a good idea to mention it, at least as your kids get older. A lot of addiction seems to have a biological component.

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/genetics/a/aa990517.htm

Just one example. Still, I think it's only fair. If you are embarrassed you can always say it was an Uncle or Grandparent or something.

Bootsy. · 26-07-2014 04:39AM

I dunno. Children are innocent, and they are too young to really understand.

I get where you're coming from, it's admirable, it's always good to be honest, but I just don't think they'd get it. They just aren't advanced enough to get it.

I've taken all kinds drugs on and off for years, never been an addict, although alcoholism is another story. I don't have young folk, but if I did, I wouldn't see any reason to bring it up.

If you're clean and sober now, then it's really not an issue for them. The here and now is all that matters. The past is the past. No point in upsetting her needlessly.

Edit: Although, if you've already told the oldest, it wouldn't really be fair not to tell the youngest. Best wait till she's a grown adult first though I think.

Soft Falling Rain · 26-07-2014 07:33AM

If nothing else, it's better for them to hear it from you than some old biddy on your road or from someone else's "little angel."

4zn76tysfajdxp · 26-07-2014 07:40AM

Soft Falling Rain wrote: »

or from someone else's "little angel."

Sorry, who are you quoting there? Just to be clear.

Soft Falling Rain · 26-07-2014 07:54AM

Lee Blue Self-improvement wrote: »

Sorry, who are you quoting there? Just to be clear.

I don't follow?

mikeyjames9 · 26-07-2014 07:55AM

I haven't got round to alcohol/drugs yet

I'm a former addict etc

my focus thus focus thus far has been on tobacco and to try and educate them to abstain

Sunnyisland · 26-07-2014 08:02AM

Yes I would, once I thought they were old and mature enough to understand,IMO it be good to explain the horrors of addiction and what it did to me and my life and indirectly there's .
They here enough about the glamorising of addictive substances it be nice to give them the downside and for some the reality.

LizzieJones · 26-07-2014 12:03PM

uch wrote: »

I'm pretty open with my kids, and have admitted to my oldest that I was (and will always will be) a Junkie (but clean for years), haven't told the youngest yet though. She's a toughie though .But would you tell your kids about any drug habbits you've had

My sons know almost everything about me.

mickydoomsux · 26-07-2014 12:07PM

I have no children but I suppose I could tell someone elses kids that I'm an addict.

gugleguy · 26-07-2014 12:07PM

Interesting thread. I'm a bore.
**** How about would you expect your OH to tell your kids your OH was a Drug Addict.*****

anncoates · 26-07-2014 12:08PM

Was never one but yes of course I would when they were old enough.

LizzieJones · 26-07-2014 12:12PM

gugleguy wrote: »

Interesting thread. I'm a bore.
**** How about would you expect your OH to tell your kids they were a Drug Addict.*****
Last edited by gugleguy; Today at 07:08. Reason: messed up third person/ second person meh!

I'm so confused.

renegademaster · 26-07-2014 12:19PM

honesty really is the best policy, when i was growing up most adults said drugs were bad and could kill ya, now after 15 years of experimenting, prohibition ending globally and factual research coming out I now know XTC/MDMA/Magic Mushrooms/Cannabis etc all have proven medical and spiritual value.

ABajaninCork · 26-07-2014 12:23PM

I think you're to be commended for being so honest, OP. Very brave of you.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 26-07-2014 12:28PM

Mm not or never was an addict but don't think I'd be comfortable explaining to children about being weak enough to take drugs during rough patches of my life

kneemos · 26-07-2014 12:32PM

They'll just throw it back at you,well you did it so why can't I ?unless you're OK with your kids taking drugs.
Definitely a case of do as I say not as I do.

Muise... · 26-07-2014 12:39PM

I note you say you "always will be" a junkie, OP, - I assume you mean behaviour like risk-taking and longings that you keep in check? This is why I think it is a good idea to tell your children - even if you hide the actual addiction, young children will assume that the bad temper that comes with hangovers/cravings is their fault and that they're not good enough for you. If you have the awareness yourself of what's going on in your recovery, and you share it with them, it will really help.

Glad you're on top of it now.

anncoates · 26-07-2014 12:39PM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

about being weak enough to take drugs during rough patches of my life

Nice passive aggression.

anncoates · 26-07-2014 12:40PM

kneemos wrote: »

They'll just throw it back at you.

They'll do that with everything to be fair. Doesn't mean you shirk your authority.

Roland.B. · 26-07-2014 12:41PM

i would tell them and then tell them what you have been through so they understand what it is to be one and then they might not become its hard to explain

Warper · 26-07-2014 12:42PM

No i would not. Kids are easily influenced plus it would also provides a logical excuse for getting involved in drugs themselves. Ah well no wonder i take drugs as my father was an addict.

kneemos · 26-07-2014 12:42PM

anncoates wrote: »

They'll do that with everything to be fair. Doesn't mean you shirk your authority.

Don't want to undermine your authority either.

Warper · 26-07-2014 12:44PM

renegademaster wrote: »

honesty really is the best policy, when i was growing up most adults said drugs were bad and could kill ya, now after 15 years of experimenting, prohibition ending globally and factual research coming out I now know XTC/MDMA/Magic Mushrooms/Cannabis etc all have proven medical and spiritual value.

So you would want your kids to try these????

Muise... · 26-07-2014 12:46PM

Warper wrote: »

No i would not. Kids are easily influenced plus it would also provides a logical excuse for getting involved in drugs themselves. Ah well no wonder i take drugs as my father was an addict.

I think you have it backwards there - the "no wonder I take drugs" excuses are pure addict-logic, not someone who is about to experiment. If kids want to try drugs the excuse is escapism or sh1ts and giggles. Telling them about the dangers, especially from personal experience, is being responsible.

anncoates · 26-07-2014 12:46PM

kneemos wrote: »

Don't want to undermine your authority either.

A lot of parenting is a hit hypocritical. Like telling your kids not to do things you did yourself. What can you do. It's still a necessary counterbalance to natural teenage urges.

SEPT 23 1989 · 26-07-2014 12:48PM

Tried everything when I was a teenager I was a big smoker for years and now I have a daughter heading into her teenage years,,a gardai came into her school to give a talk about the dangers of drugs and she asked me lots of questions about drugs when she came home

I played the thick saying I never did anything like that,all drugs are bad and if I ever caught her doing drugs I would kill her and the person who gave them to her I felt like a total hypocrite and my younger self would have looked at me in disgust

Maybe I handled it badly but at her age I think it was the right thing to do

Warper · 26-07-2014 12:49PM

Muise... wrote: »

I think you have it backwards there - the "no wonder I take drugs" excuses are pure addict-logic, not someone who is about to experiment. If kids want to try drugs the excuse is escapism or sh1ts and giggles. Telling them about the dangers, especially from personal experience, is being responsible.

I am being protective, why bring up stuff like i was a addict?? Telling them about drug experiences can be viewed as normalising taking drugs. Dont agree with this at all. This is not being responsible imo, its practically encouragement

renegademaster · 26-07-2014 12:53PM

Warper wrote: »

So you would want your kids to try these????

i would have no problem with my girl taking mdma/mushrooms/lsd/dmt or salvia, in safe amounts and in a safe environment when she's 18+ (minimum) but not until she's mature enough to try them. sadly I may bery well have very little input into when she may/or may not take something to experiment with. My only hope is that she'll talk to me first before ever trying anything like this for the first time so I can give her safe and honest advice, from experience and not propaganda rubbish.

Would you tell your Kids you were a Drug Addict

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